Comments on: Spelt is Not Gluten Free http://celiacsinthehouse.com/2011/02/spelt-is-not-gluten-free.html The Care and Feeding of a Gluten-Free Family Wed, 06 Jul 2011 17:39:42 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.1.3 By: Wendy Gregory Kaho http://celiacsinthehouse.com/2011/02/spelt-is-not-gluten-free.html#comment-693 Wendy Gregory Kaho Wed, 02 Mar 2011 18:58:16 +0000 http://celiacsinthehouse.com/?p=426#comment-693 Scary stuff, Jules. I am now preparing a list of resources and a handout so I have the info at my fingertips the next time I find myself having this conversation. Scary stuff, Jules. I am now preparing a list of resources and a handout so I have the info at my fingertips the next time I find myself having this conversation.

]]> By: Jules @ JulesGlutenFree http://celiacsinthehouse.com/2011/02/spelt-is-not-gluten-free.html#comment-692 Jules @ JulesGlutenFree Wed, 02 Mar 2011 18:33:37 +0000 http://celiacsinthehouse.com/?p=426#comment-692 Wendy, thanks again so much for publishing this piece. As you and I discussed before, it's such a shame that consumers (particularly in our community) cannot always trust the accuracy of the safety information they receive about their food. I was giving a lecture at a national baking seminar not long ago, and at a round-table discussion before my lecture, a representative from a major flour manufacturer (one that also produces gluten-free flours) told the table of commercial bakers that he recommended spelt as an alternative grain, "because many celiacs can tolerate it." I had to spend the first 5 minutes of my lecture time before the entire group dispelling this myth, and impressing upon them all how important it is to get the facts right before they inadvertently poison people. We must all remain vigilent to protect ourselves and our families. Wendy, thanks again so much for publishing this piece.
As you and I discussed before, it’s such a shame that consumers (particularly in our community) cannot always trust the accuracy of the safety information they receive about their food. I was giving a lecture at a national baking seminar not long ago, and at a round-table discussion before my lecture, a representative from a major flour manufacturer (one that also produces gluten-free flours) told the table of commercial bakers that he recommended spelt as an alternative grain, “because many celiacs can tolerate it.” I had to spend the first 5 minutes of my lecture time before the entire group dispelling this myth, and impressing upon them all how important it is to get the facts right before they inadvertently poison people.
We must all remain vigilent to protect ourselves and our families.

]]> By: Wendy Gregory Kaho http://celiacsinthehouse.com/2011/02/spelt-is-not-gluten-free.html#comment-666 Wendy Gregory Kaho Tue, 01 Mar 2011 02:12:26 +0000 http://celiacsinthehouse.com/?p=426#comment-666 Yes, adamant and rude are words I keep hearing. Yes, adamant and rude are words I keep hearing.

]]> By: Yak Yak http://celiacsinthehouse.com/2011/02/spelt-is-not-gluten-free.html#comment-664 Yak Yak Tue, 01 Mar 2011 01:39:05 +0000 http://celiacsinthehouse.com/?p=426#comment-664 Thank you! I don't know how many times I have also had to defend the spelt is not gluten-free theme. Most recently to a vendor handing out free samples of "gluten-free" spelt bread! I tried to explain that it was not, in fact, gf and that the product could hurt people. She was adamant (and rude) that spelt was gluten-free. :( Thank you! I don’t know how many times I have also had to defend the spelt is not gluten-free theme. Most recently to a vendor handing out free samples of “gluten-free” spelt bread! I tried to explain that it was not, in fact, gf and that the product could hurt people. She was adamant (and rude) that spelt was gluten-free. :(

]]> By: Wendy Gregory Kaho http://celiacsinthehouse.com/2011/02/spelt-is-not-gluten-free.html#comment-659 Wendy Gregory Kaho Tue, 01 Mar 2011 00:00:43 +0000 http://celiacsinthehouse.com/?p=426#comment-659 Yes, the gluten-free bloggers do have an obligation to get the word out and make sure they are posting the most current, correct and helpful info available. I am so proud of the members of our GF community and their efforts. Yes, the gluten-free bloggers do have an obligation to get the word out and make sure they are posting the most current, correct and helpful info available. I am so proud of the members of our GF community and their efforts.

]]> By: Wendy Gregory Kaho http://celiacsinthehouse.com/2011/02/spelt-is-not-gluten-free.html#comment-658 Wendy Gregory Kaho Mon, 28 Feb 2011 23:58:24 +0000 http://celiacsinthehouse.com/?p=426#comment-658 Thank you, Julie for making the world safer for celiacs and those with wheat allergies by sharing your story. My husband was unconscious and not breathing when I pulled into the ER entrance at the local hospital after multiple yellow jacket stings and I know anaphylactic shock is scary, scary stuff. Can't even imagine it with a child. Thank you, Julie for making the world safer for celiacs and those with wheat allergies by sharing your story. My husband was unconscious and not breathing when I pulled into the ER entrance at the local hospital after multiple yellow jacket stings and I know anaphylactic shock is scary, scary stuff. Can’t even imagine it with a child.

]]> By: Julie Bryan http://celiacsinthehouse.com/2011/02/spelt-is-not-gluten-free.html#comment-656 Julie Bryan Mon, 28 Feb 2011 23:41:39 +0000 http://celiacsinthehouse.com/?p=426#comment-656 I can vouch that Spelt is NOT safe for anyone with at least an anaphylactic wheat allergy. My son had an ER trip after eating spelt noodles! I can vouch that Spelt is NOT safe for anyone with at least an anaphylactic wheat allergy. My son had an ER trip after eating spelt noodles!

]]> By: Maggie http://celiacsinthehouse.com/2011/02/spelt-is-not-gluten-free.html#comment-655 Maggie Mon, 28 Feb 2011 23:30:42 +0000 http://celiacsinthehouse.com/?p=426#comment-655 Wendy - Thank you so much for spreading the word about spelt. It's so important, especially for people who don't have an obvious reaction to gluten. It is so clear that there needs to be a public awareness campaign regarding gluten-free flours that are safe for consumption. Do you know how many times I've been asked if potatoes are gluten-free? Is rice gluten-free? Seriously! People need to be educated. Looks like it's up to the blogging community! Wendy – Thank you so much for spreading the word about spelt. It’s so important, especially for people who don’t have an obvious reaction to gluten. It is so clear that there needs to be a public awareness campaign regarding gluten-free flours that are safe for consumption. Do you know how many times I’ve been asked if potatoes are gluten-free? Is rice gluten-free? Seriously! People need to be educated. Looks like it’s up to the blogging community!

]]> By: Wendy Gregory Kaho http://celiacsinthehouse.com/2011/02/spelt-is-not-gluten-free.html#comment-654 Wendy Gregory Kaho Mon, 28 Feb 2011 22:25:33 +0000 http://celiacsinthehouse.com/?p=426#comment-654 Yay for Bob's Red Mill! You go Bob! Yay for Bob’s Red Mill! You go Bob!

]]> By: Natalie http://celiacsinthehouse.com/2011/02/spelt-is-not-gluten-free.html#comment-653 Natalie Mon, 28 Feb 2011 22:22:09 +0000 http://celiacsinthehouse.com/?p=426#comment-653 I wanted to pick up some spelt one day until I picked up a package of Bob's Red Mill and read it. States fairly clearly on there that it is a variety of wheat so I did not get it. I wanted to pick up some spelt one day until I picked up a package of Bob’s Red Mill and read it. States fairly clearly on there that it is a variety of wheat so I did not get it.

]]> By: Wendy Gregory Kaho http://celiacsinthehouse.com/2011/02/spelt-is-not-gluten-free.html#comment-640 Wendy Gregory Kaho Sun, 27 Feb 2011 19:13:50 +0000 http://celiacsinthehouse.com/?p=426#comment-640 I do love your long winded replies, Shirley. This topic deserves all the words we can fire at it to keep us all safe. I do love your long winded replies, Shirley. This topic deserves all the words we can fire at it to keep us all safe.

]]> By: Shirley @ gfe http://celiacsinthehouse.com/2011/02/spelt-is-not-gluten-free.html#comment-639 Shirley @ gfe Sun, 27 Feb 2011 19:00:56 +0000 http://celiacsinthehouse.com/?p=426#comment-639 Hey Wendy, I can't thank you enough for bringing this topic to the forefront and being willing to pursue this serious concern for those of us who need to eat gluten free. I shared <strong><a href="http://glutenfreeeasily.com/the-spin-on-spelt/" rel="nofollow">in a post</a></strong> how I'd been presented with spelt bread as gluten free by my MIL at Thanksgiving a few years ago. That was one very awkward moment when I had to decline and tell her that it wasn't safe. She didn't believe me because the local bakery was selling it as gluten free. It's taken a lot to stop that guy from labeling it as such, but I don't know if he still tells folks on the side that it can be safe on a gluten-free diet. Thinking about it gets me pretty riled up. And, as comments here have shown, the "spin on spelt" continues. I got some comments on my post from the spelt sellers/promoters basically calling me a liar. One of the biggest sellers of spelt is <strong><em>Purity Foods </em></strong>(and it was one of their personnel who left such comments), with their Vita-Spelt brand. On their website's main page, there's <strong><a href="http://www.purityfoods.com/cooking_resources/fda_allergen_law" rel="nofollow">a link to their statement</a></strong> that they will follow the FDA's guidelines and show "wheat" on their labels, but then state that spelt is not wheat. <strong><a href="http://www.purityfoods.com/cooking_resources/what_is_spelt" rel="nofollow">On another page</a></strong>, they talk about spelt being an amazing grain that is an alternative to wheat, but then they go on to talk about spelt "as opposed to modern wheat varities." That implies to me that they consider spelt to be an ancient wheat, which is usually how it's defined. And, <strong><a href="http://www.purityfoods.com/cooking_resources/what_is_spelt/alternative_wheat_cereals" rel="nofollow">then on another page</a></strong>, they refer to spelt under "alternative wheat cereal grains" and also call it a "covered wheat." <a href="http://www.purityfoods.com/cooking_resources/fda_allergen_law" rel="nofollow"></a> <strong><a href="http://www.purityfoods.com/cooking_resources/what_is_spelt/celiac_concerns" rel="nofollow">Their Celiac Concerns page</a></strong> ires me the most because it talks about those with celiac being able to consume spelt safely. But, <strong><a href="http://www.purityfoods.com/cooking_resources" rel="nofollow">on their FAQs page</a></strong>, in the first Q&A, they state that spelt contains gluten. And, that last part is the only thing we, who need to eat gluten free, truly need to know. As far as those with wheat allergies, spelt is wheat by everyone's definition except it seems for the folks who sell it. Another commenter who took issue with my post made me look futher at kamut. On the kamut site, <strong><a href="http://www.kamut.com/en/origin.html" rel="nofollow">an origin and taxonomy is provided</a></strong>, which includes both kamut and spelt as wheat. (Thank you, disparaging commenter!) Sorry to be so long winded, but I wanted to point out that the very folks who keep defending spelt, and other grains like kamut, as safe are the ones providing the data to show that they are wheat and they contain gluten. We must keep sharing the truth. Thanks so much for all your work in this area! Last, thanks to you and Tia for your sweet words on my work. I'm so happy to be in this group of folks sharing gluten-free info. We're all in this together ... each doing our part, and every part is critical! Shirley Hey Wendy,

I can’t thank you enough for bringing this topic to the forefront and being willing to pursue this serious concern for those of us who need to eat gluten free. I shared in a post how I’d been presented with spelt bread as gluten free by my MIL at Thanksgiving a few years ago. That was one very awkward moment when I had to decline and tell her that it wasn’t safe. She didn’t believe me because the local bakery was selling it as gluten free. It’s taken a lot to stop that guy from labeling it as such, but I don’t know if he still tells folks on the side that it can be safe on a gluten-free diet. Thinking about it gets me pretty riled up. And, as comments here have shown, the “spin on spelt” continues.

I got some comments on my post from the spelt sellers/promoters basically calling me a liar. One of the biggest sellers of spelt is Purity Foods (and it was one of their personnel who left such comments), with their Vita-Spelt brand. On their website’s main page, there’s a link to their statement that they will follow the FDA’s guidelines and show “wheat” on their labels, but then state that spelt is not wheat.

On another page, they talk about spelt being an amazing grain that is an alternative to wheat, but then they go on to talk about spelt “as opposed to modern wheat varities.” That implies to me that they consider spelt to be an ancient wheat, which is usually how it’s defined.

And, then on another page, they refer to spelt under “alternative wheat cereal grains” and also call it a “covered wheat.”

Their Celiac Concerns page ires me the most because it talks about those with celiac being able to consume spelt safely.

But, on their FAQs page, in the first Q&A, they state that spelt contains gluten.

And, that last part is the only thing we, who need to eat gluten free, truly need to know. As far as those with wheat allergies, spelt is wheat by everyone’s definition except it seems for the folks who sell it. Another commenter who took issue with my post made me look futher at kamut. On the kamut site, an origin and taxonomy is provided, which includes both kamut and spelt as wheat. (Thank you, disparaging commenter!)

Sorry to be so long winded, but I wanted to point out that the very folks who keep defending spelt, and other grains like kamut, as safe are the ones providing the data to show that they are wheat and they contain gluten.

We must keep sharing the truth. Thanks so much for all your work in this area! Last, thanks to you and Tia for your sweet words on my work. I’m so happy to be in this group of folks sharing gluten-free info. We’re all in this together … each doing our part, and every part is critical!

Shirley

]]> By: Wendy Gregory Kaho http://celiacsinthehouse.com/2011/02/spelt-is-not-gluten-free.html#comment-626 Wendy Gregory Kaho Sat, 26 Feb 2011 10:32:45 +0000 http://celiacsinthehouse.com/?p=426#comment-626 I'm researching this, Stephanie. I know our local healthy food store owner convinced us to switch to spelt before diagnosis when we were all sick and no doctors were considering diet as the source. I do hear a lot of people say spelt is easier for them to digest and tolerate, but these people aren't celiac or extremely intolerant. Even those folks may be in for a sad surprise as the scientists tweak spelt to increase gluten and make it more wheat like. I’m researching this, Stephanie. I know our local healthy food store owner convinced us to switch to spelt before diagnosis when we were all sick and no doctors were considering diet as the source. I do hear a lot of people say spelt is easier for them to digest and tolerate, but these people aren’t celiac or extremely intolerant. Even those folks may be in for a sad surprise as the scientists tweak spelt to increase gluten and make it more wheat like.

]]> By: Stephanie http://celiacsinthehouse.com/2011/02/spelt-is-not-gluten-free.html#comment-625 Stephanie Sat, 26 Feb 2011 09:53:13 +0000 http://celiacsinthehouse.com/?p=426#comment-625 Wow, this is interesting as I switched to spelt last year. I am not a Celiac, but do feel better not eating gluten. My local health store stocks Spelt in the gluten free section. How has this confusion come about? Wow, this is interesting as I switched to spelt last year. I am not a Celiac, but do feel better not eating gluten. My local health store stocks Spelt in the gluten free section. How has this confusion come about?

]]> By: Wendy Gregory Kaho http://celiacsinthehouse.com/2011/02/spelt-is-not-gluten-free.html#comment-624 Wendy Gregory Kaho Fri, 25 Feb 2011 21:19:12 +0000 http://celiacsinthehouse.com/?p=426#comment-624 So glad you posted about it and shared the link here. The label pictured in your post would confuse a lot of people. So glad you posted about it and shared the link here. The label pictured in your post would confuse a lot of people.

]]> By: Jennifer http://celiacsinthehouse.com/2011/02/spelt-is-not-gluten-free.html#comment-623 Jennifer Fri, 25 Feb 2011 20:37:57 +0000 http://celiacsinthehouse.com/?p=426#comment-623 I'm a bit embarrassed to admit that I was spelted early in my g.f. days (http://www.mountainoflaundry.com/2009/10/betrayed.html). As a dietitian-to-be, I felt especially duped, but a lesson was learned that applies to all food sensitivities: Labels can be dangerous! I’m a bit embarrassed to admit that I was spelted early in my g.f. days (http://www.mountainoflaundry.com/2009/10/betrayed.html). As a dietitian-to-be, I felt especially duped, but a lesson was learned that applies to all food sensitivities: Labels can be dangerous!

]]> By: Valerie @ City|Life|Eats http://celiacsinthehouse.com/2011/02/spelt-is-not-gluten-free.html#comment-622 Valerie @ City|Life|Eats Fri, 25 Feb 2011 20:30:50 +0000 http://celiacsinthehouse.com/?p=426#comment-622 PS - I am goign to leave the comment re: the condiment I mentioned above on Shirley's blog to hear her thoughts. PS – I am goign to leave the comment re: the condiment I mentioned above on Shirley’s blog to hear her thoughts.

]]> By: Valerie @ City|Life|Eats http://celiacsinthehouse.com/2011/02/spelt-is-not-gluten-free.html#comment-621 Valerie @ City|Life|Eats Fri, 25 Feb 2011 20:30:05 +0000 http://celiacsinthehouse.com/?p=426#comment-621 Agreed on the how much is too much. So not worth trying. My ND is adamant that I should not eat buckwheat or millet or GF oats either, and advocates eating only rice, corn, and teff if I want to eat grains (or quinoa, which she calls a pseudo grain). I only liked millet, so that one was easy to give up for me, but I love buckwheat and some GF oats. My compromise has been to 1. only buy raw buckwheat groats (BRM, gf of course) and 2. cut back on GF oats significantly and 3. work on being completely grain-free a few days a week (ie not even buckwheat or quinoa). I have noticed that doing that, combined with cutting back on the buckwheat and GF oats seems to work for me. I am grateful for GF oats though, as my husband loves his oatmeal, and I am not worried about that being cooked in our kitchen, you know? Agreed on the how much is too much. So not worth trying. My ND is adamant that I should not eat buckwheat or millet or GF oats either, and advocates eating only rice, corn, and teff if I want to eat grains (or quinoa, which she calls a pseudo grain). I only liked millet, so that one was easy to give up for me, but I love buckwheat and some GF oats. My compromise has been to 1. only buy raw buckwheat groats (BRM, gf of course) and 2. cut back on GF oats significantly and 3. work on being completely grain-free a few days a week (ie not even buckwheat or quinoa). I have noticed that doing that, combined with cutting back on the buckwheat and GF oats seems to work for me. I am grateful for GF oats though, as my husband loves his oatmeal, and I am not worried about that being cooked in our kitchen, you know?

]]> By: Wendy Gregory Kaho http://celiacsinthehouse.com/2011/02/spelt-is-not-gluten-free.html#comment-620 Wendy Gregory Kaho Fri, 25 Feb 2011 19:03:53 +0000 http://celiacsinthehouse.com/?p=426#comment-620 Not only annoying, but scary. I always worry about kids who get glutened when their bodies are so much smaller and they are still growing. No one wants a setback in the healing process for the little ones especially. Not only annoying, but scary. I always worry about kids who get glutened when their bodies are so much smaller and they are still growing. No one wants a setback in the healing process for the little ones especially.

]]> By: Wendy Gregory Kaho http://celiacsinthehouse.com/2011/02/spelt-is-not-gluten-free.html#comment-619 Wendy Gregory Kaho Fri, 25 Feb 2011 19:02:19 +0000 http://celiacsinthehouse.com/?p=426#comment-619 Tia, you sweetie. You made my day by including me with Shirley and Heidi. They are the movers and shakers in keeping us safe in the gluten-free community. When I need a quick research link or back-up, those two are the ones I call and they are on it immediately. We are in this together and we all have our parts to play. Don't we have a great community! Tia, you sweetie. You made my day by including me with Shirley and Heidi. They are the movers and shakers in keeping us safe in the gluten-free community. When I need a quick research link or back-up, those two are the ones I call and they are on it immediately. We are in this together and we all have our parts to play. Don’t we have a great community!

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